A carbon material is described, having utility for fabricating an electrode of an electrochemical energy device, wherein the carbon material includes a particulate carbon having a particle size d50 in a range of from 1 to 15 μm, a bulk density in a range of from 0.3 g/cc to 1.2 g/cc, a surface area as measured by nitrogen BET surface area determination at 25° C. that does not exceed 10 m2/g, and an impurity content of less than 3000 ppm by weight, based on weight of the carbon material. Such carbon material may be utilized in amorphous or graphitic form in an electrode of an electrochemical energy device, such as a negative electrode of a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-ion hybrid capacitor.